Gains will primarily be driven by ongoing, gains in construction activity, since new systems are generally installed during initial construction or major renovations. The institutional market, in particular, will benefit as related building expenditures improve from the slow growth of the 2011-2016 period.

Key Findings in the Security Alarms Study:

Consumer Market Continues to Generate Largest Gains

The consumer market represents the largest share of alarm system sales, accounting for more than two-fifths of demand in 2016. This largely stems from the important role that life safety alarms play in residential buildings. Not only do building codes require the installation of some types of life safety alarms -- particularly smoke detectors -- in newly constructed residences, but the importance of having alarms that are in good working order also supports replacement and upgrade demand. Going forward, gains will benefit from ongoing strength in residential construction activity, coupled with greater compliance in replacement rates and market innovations that spur upgrades over simple replacement.

The consumer market also represents the largest single outlet for intrusion alarms. Affluent individuals are more likely to invest in intrusion systems, both because they are able to afford the alarms and the related monitoring contracts, and because they have substantial assets to protect. Elderly homeowners -- a growing market segment -- also are more likely to invest in intrusion systems, as they tend to feel more vulnerable and at-risk than do younger people.

PERS Alarms and the Aging Population

The graying population is also a key factor supporting growth in demand for PERS alarms, since they are primarily used by older people who increasingly prefer to age in place. These alarms will see the fastest gains of any product segment, albeit from a much smaller base. Advances will benefit from ongoing innovations in product features, ranging from improvements to mobile PERS devices for more active individuals to voice recognition and fall detection technologies in both mobile and at-home alarm models. Further gains will stem from extending marketing to groups such as latch-key children and abuse survivors.